Sigma has announced a compact full-frame L-mount mirrorless camera, which will be known as the 'fp'. It will have a 24.6MP BSI-CMOS sensor that uses a traditional Bayer color filter. The autofocus system is contrast-detect, which Sigma claims can focus down to -5EV.

The fp is incredibly compact, especially by current L-mount standards, with dimensions of just 113 x 70 x 45mm and a weight of 370 grams. The body is weather-sealed and has a fixed 3.2", 2.1M-dot touchscreen and a decent amount of controls considering the size of the camera. The body has HDMI, flash sync, microphone, USB 3.1 sockets, and a port that handles a remote shutter release and an external mic.

The camera has an ISO range of 100-25600, expandable to 6-102400. It has a fully electronic shutter and supports Eye AF and HDR. It can capture 14-bit DNG files and is fully compatible with Sigma's Photo Pro software. Its burst rate is an impressive 18 fps, though that's for only 12 shots.

Sigma has also teased a forthcoming Foveon model, but has not released any further details as yet

The fp is no slouch in the video department, either. It supports 12-bit UHD 4K/24p CinemaDNG video and offers a waveform monitor, shutter angle control and timecode. There's also a 'director mode' that lets you preview video at other aspect ratios. Sigma managed to fit a heatsink into the fp in order to keep things cool for extended recording times.

Sigma will offer a number of accessories for the fp, including grips, a flash bracket and an eyepiece for the LCD. Key specs of the fp will be shared with third party accessory manufacturers.

In case you're wondering, 'fp' stands for 'fortissimo pianissimo', which translates roughly to 'very loud and very soft'.

The fp will be available this fall. Sigma has also teased a forthcoming Foveon model, but has not released any further details as yet, other than it will have 20 million pixels per layer.

SIGMA Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of “SIGMA fp,” the world's smallest and lightest full-frame mirrorless digital camera*. The SIGMA fp incorporates a 35mm full-frame Bayer sensor with 24.6 effective megapixels in a compact body, and boasts great versatility and scalability that allows mixing-and-matching of a variety of interchangeable lenses and accessories. It is a camera that is casual enough to take anywhere, anytime, and high-spec enough for serious still and cine shooting in the highest image quality, all in a robust and classy body.

Regardless of the differences in shooting scenes and styles or genre boundaries between stills and videos, this new camera is set to expand the freedom and possibilities in image shooting and art creation further than ever before. A “pocketable full-frame” camera: SIGMA fp, is now available.

*As of July, 2019.

SIGMA's take on an entirely new system camera. The world's smallest and lightest “pocketable full-frame” camera is here.

The environment that surrounds shooting and art creation is undergoing radical changes. In this day and age when one user may have both a high-performance interchangeable lens camera and a smartphone camera, using them flexibly according to specific purposes and settings, SIGMA stopped and questioned the inherent value of a digital camera.As a result, SIGMA set itself to develop a user-oriented digital camera that reflected the idea of “how a camera can be” in a more flexible and true-to-life manner, without conforming to manufacturers' ideas of camera-centric categories and hierarchy.

Pocketable full-frame│Impressive portability and power

The “smallest and lightest body possible” with which one can express their creative ideas whenever they want, combined with a “full-frame sensor” that is suitable for serious occasions without compromising on image quality, and “superb build quality” that makes the camera the perfect linchpin of a high-performance lens system.

Scalable│Versatile scalability

An “open and liberal system” that allows one to pair the camera with lenses and accessories, whether from SIGMA or other brands, using a variety of attachments, complete with “versatile scalability” that makes the camera adaptable to any scenes.

Seamless│Full-fledged, liberating shooting functions

A “highly intuitive UI” that allows one to move between full-fledged still and cine shooting modes with just one finger, making for a “seamless and truly creative tool” that goes beyond style and genre differences.

Making it a top priority to realize these three concepts all at once and without requiring any trade-offs, SIGMA selected only the elements and mechanisms that were truly needed with no compromise to create the SIGMA fp as the embodiment of an “entirely new digital camera that SIGMA can offer to the world right now.”

It's a camera body that changes its configuration with great flexibility centered around the user. It's a tool that gives the user the joy of a new camera life that they themselves are yet to discover. It's a new system camera that will overturn the paradigm of “digital cameras.”The SIGMA fp is here to broaden the potential of “image shooting” ad infinitum.

World's smallest and lightest full-frame camera

With overall dimensions of 112.6×69.9×45.3mm and body weight of 370g, without battery and card, the SIGMA fp is the world's smallest and lightest full-frame mirrorless camera*. It employs a back-illuminated 35mm full-frame Bayer sensor with 24.6 effective megapixels for high-quality images.

Covered on the front and back sides with die-cast aluminum alloy for its superior robustness and thermal conductivity, the compact body of the SIGMA fp is built with a signature heat sink structure and sealing on 42 points for a dust- and splash-proof structure, making it a perfect camera to use for long hours under all types of environments. With its small body and great adaptability, the SIGMA fp enhances the joy of full-frame image quality, no matter what one's shooting settings may be. ＊As of July, 2019.

Electronic shutter for a variety of settings

“Able to shoot whenever you want, wherever you want”―to realize this concept, the SIGMA fp incorporates a construction without a mechanical shutter for quiet shooting. This allows shooting without worrying about noise in a situation where one would have hesitated with a conventional camera because of its shutter sound. It gives no shutter shock even when shooting in quick succession at a frame rate of 18 frames/sec. eliminating even the tiniest shakes.

In addition, the absence of a mechanical shutter, whose performance level can change through continuous operation, means that the SIGMA fp is a camera with improved reliability.

Superior options in artistic picture & video creations

The SIGMA fp is a frontrunner in incorporating functions that help exploring the photographic and cinematic creations.

For instance, in addition to a number of different color modes, the SIGMA fp has newly introduced the “Teal and Orange” mode, inspired by the color grading technique commonly used in Hollywood films. Each mode has a slider that enables adjustment of the strength of the effects to apply, providing even greater control in one's creations.

The SIGMA fp is the first SIGMA camera to employ a tone curve adjustment function in addition to "Fill Light", a special adjustment function of SIGMA Photo Pro, and they are both available in-camera. It has also newly introduced "TONE" and "COLOR" buttons for a quick access to each of the tone control and color mode menus. With these enhanced functions and a variety of operation elements, the SIGMA fp makes it simple and easy to create an image, in-camera with great details, be it still or video.

Advanced picture & video generating functions

The SIGMA fp employs a number of advanced technologies for image and video generation.

The Auto HDR function takes advantage of an electronic shutter to take multiple pictures of different exposures (3 frames for still photography and 2 frames for video) at once, which can then be merged into a single picture or video with a great dynamic range that could not have been achieved in normal shooting.

The Cinemagraph function, meanwhile, achieves a hybrid between still photography and video in the form of animated GIFs in which parts of a still image keep moving. With this function, the SIGMA fp is capable of creating Cinemagraphs in-camera.Note: The Auto HDR function in the Cine mode and the Cinemagraph function are to become available via firmware update scheduled at a later date.

L-Mount

The SIGMA fp uses the L-Mount*, characterized by a short flange focal length, large diameter, and superior durability. For interchangeable lenses, in addition to the wide-ranging choices of SIGMA lenses, other manufacturers' lenses can also be an option through the L-Mount Alliance with Leica Camera AG and Panasonic Corporation. With the SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-21, SIGMA SA mount and SIGMA's CANON EF mount lenses can be used, making the best out of one's lens investment.

*The L-Mount Trademark is a registered Trademark of Leica Camera AG.

Supports full-fledged video production

For raw video data, the SIGMA fp supports 12-bit CinemaDNG external recording. With 4K UHD/24fps recording, it produces video data that can be used even in filmmaking. It also supports ALL-I recording which is optimal for editing H.264 compressed videos.

For video output, it uses USB3.1(GEN1), which allows a smooth data transmission to an external recording unit. As it also supports cinema camera-like user interfaces, the SIGMA fp is a camera that can be taken straight to video production settings.

Note: The feature of playing CinemaDNG footages in-camera is to become available via firmware update scheduled at a later date.

Seamless transition between Still and Cine modes

Going from the Still mode to the Cine mode at the flip of a switch. Each mode comes with a specially designed operation system and displays, making it possible to concentrate on shooting in each mode, stress-free.

Comments

The body is smaller than SLR or EVF camera bodies in good part became **there is no eye-level viewfinder** (neither EVF or OVF). This illustrates that neither the new, wider lens mounts like L, R and Z nor sensor size up to about 36x24 have much affect on how big an ILC body has to be; it is mainly room for all adequate LCD and VF at the back (plus room for enough and big enough controls.)

And it certain stops being small once an eye-level VF is proved with that LCD hood accessory at the back!

@RvEL No, I doubt it will AF fast enough for sports. Not every camera has to be fast enough for sports!

I hope this leads the industry-which is trending upscale in any event-into modular concept. Remember when the pro level film SLRs had interchangeable finders; bulk film backs; etc. The only useful thing that has really carried over to digital is grips that accommodate more battery power.

Yes, it will be great for sports . . . some sports, just as Sigma's ridiculously slow cameras have always been great for some sports, like sailboat racing, and those sports you can pre-set your focus for. Of course it depends on exactly what you plan to do with your camera. My suspicion is that it will be the lenses that limit this camera more than the camera itself. It is surely the first of many, and already Sigma cameras have both pdaf and cdaf.

I hope it sells! And I hope the 14 mm f/1.8 has sold, I don't know, never seen one in the wild. I have their 24-35 f/2 and I adore it on my D850 (a big awkward on my Z6, however). I know their 18-35 f/1.8 is pretty common.

This looks like a prototype, seems too unfocused for the very niche market it needs to sell to. Does not inspire confidence.Hope it does well simply because i like Sigma as a company, but might be again another failure.

You're right. You don't understand. You say that you get it, but you don't. It's as if you just ignored the word modular completely.

So MILC man, is a GoPro a video camera? You imply it can't be a video camera, because it doesn't do 4Kp60 video, so does that mean none of the Canon or Sony mirrorless cameras is a video camera either?

So now everyone has become in the next Oscar-winning cinematographers and "can't live" without 4K60p lol. Really, how many of you actually shoot and edit videos in low-mo 4k? or is just something you need to repeat because it is the YouTube trend?

I have worked my whole life in advertising and I can't see myself making a TV commercial with a DSLR. And you don't need to spend 40k in a RED or ARRI gear, they are for rentals you know?

Maybe you should read and educate yourself before posting. They have a small 45/2.8 along with some other upcoming lenses .They have have a small body, some large bodies, and an upcoming Foveon sensor camera too.

@io_bg don't bother with this nicephore, his account has been active 2 days and he has been trolling since. He has no clue about what he is saying. You are correct, this camera makes little sense. No EVF, no IBIS, not nothing, just monster lenses to go with.

Sigma cameras are largely niche products. They're far from general-purpose cameras, but what they do, they do exceptionally well.

Their Foveon sensors, for example, are godawful at higher ISOs, but give AMAZING sharpness at base ISO. The Sigma DP2 Quattro, for example. It's a $900 fixed-lens APS-C camera that just absolutely destroys the flagship full frame cameras from Canon, Nikon, and Sony on fine details!

Just another example of why Sigma should stick to making lenses. The only redeeming quality in any of their poorly designed cameras was the foveon sensor. This thing doesn't even have that. If this camera is priced even remotely close to a S1 they'll be lucky to sell a dozen cameras.

I have too many cameras. But the collection includes an SD Quattro. That is NOT a poorly designed camera. Sure it has many weaknesses ( amazing IQ though ) but poorly designed it is not. The user interface of the Sigma is EASILY better than any Sony I own and IMO at least equal to Fuji.

To all those moaning or scratching your heads, try shooting with a Fovean sensor ... then you’ll understand why people are excited about this camera. It’s more about the sensor output than the shooting experience!

With a swivel LCD and Mic inputs it could be popular with Youtubers. Without those though I guess the small size for a FF camera is the only real selling point. I can’t wait to see what a Foven FF sensor can do though. We will see what that camera has if when it arrives

If Nikon made a similar Z I would consider it as a "point and shoot" that can use my lenses.If it could be made 25-30% smaller and lighter than the Z7 I might actually get one. This an interchangeable lens P&S

@lilBuddhaI'm one of those guys who is just happy to see any new products regardless of faults I would like a pocket ILC. I own the Nikon 1 system and while it's hardly used, sometimes it's all I need when the whole family goes out and my wife wishes I had not brought a camera. I think this Sigma fits that mode for an L mount user.

@MILC manThe Blackmagic has its niche which is between the prosumer all-in-one and the modular, professional market. This camera appears to be more towards the latter. I can easily see this being a great B-cam on a low-budget or compact shoot. If the video quality is there.No, a marketing photo just shows how the body integrates within such a setup. The video quality will demonstrate its viability, or lack thereof.If you think the all-in-one approach demonstrates viability for video use, your understanding is quite limited.\But whatevs, bro. Hate if you wanna hate.

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema 4K has a micro 4/3 sensor, a la 16mm. This is a full-frame sensor. Big difference and much harder to push 4k 60p on that size sensor. I'm super excited for the 12-bit CinemaDNG and RAW, which you can't get on a FF camera this size!

@wildbil - Sigma heard your prayers? You were praying for a small, poor ergonomically designed camera with no Foveon sensor? You remind me of the 'Lowered Expectations' segments on Saturday Night Live back in the day.

point is, it gives you a choice no current FF camera is giving: a small body or a normal body with a grip.

Besides they're not releasing their f1.4 for this fp camera, they might be doing it for the Panasonic ones as well, don't you think? maybe in this alliance, if they're successful enought to carry on, they could actually use the best of multiple worlds: the bricks from Sigma that are top sharp, consumer grade lenses from Panasonic, overpriced lenses from Leica...

For years I had a Sony NEX 5t. It had no built-in VF, but I used the attachable EVF when I needed one. The small size difference between it and the NEX 7 was the difference between the camera small enough for me to take everywhere and the camera I usually left at home. This look like more of a BMCC competitor though.

This is a seriously interesting camera. I am not in the FF market but was intrigued by Panasonic L-mount platform. As long as Sigma set a reasonable price, it may just be enough to push me over the fence into FF.

Maybe. It's quite possible that, if Sigma prices it right, this would be a great 2nd body for Panasonic and Leica shooters, especially when it comes to video. Or maybe even a 1st body as it's obviously modular.

I wonder if there will be the ability to add a module to the top that has a pop-up EVF, hot shoe maybe; then it would need to replicate the top controls too? This is likely the plan because the built-in top controls are almost perfectly flush mounted. If so, this is perfect IMO because you design your own camera according to your needs. I hope it remains as compact as comparable 1-piece camera however.

The fixed rear lcd screen should be removable tho because you might want to replace with articulating one. :) Who knows if they'll make many consumer modules though, this seems pro-oriented to me. This may be the ultimate digital camera if module selection is high.

This is exciting design and will be great for some people. In reality the small size will be more more of a problem than helpful though for most: It is a weird offering from a lens company who struggle to make lenses anything but massive.

No tilt screenNo small lenses yetNo phase detectionNo included evfNo included gripIf i bought this it would still end up in a bag

Then what's the point of the "smallest ff camera" selling point, if you need to add a grip in order to hold this brick comfortably. And besides the 45mm which is no near a pancake size, all other Sigma lenses are at least 3 pounds and 6 in long.

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